I had the pleasure of meeting hareball (Bob) today and shooting the breeze with him before going a bit further south to Holgate. Boy has that area changed over the years.

The following is part of a handout given out today by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service:

Holgate is part of the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, and the Holgate Unit of the Brigantine Wilderness Area.

Holgate is at the southern most tip of Long Beach Island. The Holgate Peninsula is about 3 miles long, and contains more than 400 acres of pristine barrier beach, dunes, and tidal salt marsh. As one of New Jersey’s last underdeveloped barrier beaches, Holgate is important for beach nesting birds – including piping plovers, least terns, and black skimmers. The State of New Jersey lists all three species as endangered. There are more than 50 other migratory bird species nest at Holgate each year, including black ducks, oystercrackers, ospreys, and willets.

Fishing is a priority public use of all units of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Fishermen are welcome to use Holgate Beach as are all visitors interested in wildlife dependant activities such as wildlife observation, photography, and environmental education. Because Holgate Beach is a special place all visitors are encouraged to use the beach with appreciation and sensitivity.

With that said, the beach at Holgate in the spring and summer are closed to pedestrians and vehicles, from April 1st to September 1st. You can still a very small portion of the beach as the baracade does not stare for 500 feet beyond the fence.

There is a great wall and remains of jetties that look very promising. Today was hazy, hot and humid but the water was very clear.

It is worth a look at the fall and winter months, with a parking area for easy access to the beach itself. If you plan to drive onto the beach you will need a permit that you can acquire through the township of Beach Haven.

This area is free to fish at this time with no parking permits or parking fee at this time. There is a booth there so I’m not sure if there will be a fee during the times the beach is clear to venture out on and everyone I asked was not sure or willing to commit themselves to a price.

The only place I had problems was right at Holgate itself. By your shop nothing and up at the Light nothing. At the Light I noticed the wind did shift and was coming out of the north east which would help.

Like I say if there is a W in the wind report or no wind at all I stay home off the beach.